East Carolina football to visit Florida in 2015

East Carolina continued its tradition of scheduling top-notch nonconference opponents today by announcing a one-game matchup against Southeastern Conference power Florida in 2015.

The Pirates will play the Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Sept. 12, 2015. It will mark the second time ECU has traveled to Gainesville for a game and extends a lengthy history of games for the Pirates against SEC foes.

"I'm sure many of our fans will remember the last time we played in The Swamp," ECU athletics director Jeff Compher said in a statement released by the school. "While it's a great opportunity to compete in that environment against a program with the tradition Florida has, I'm confident Coach (Ruffin) McNeill will have the Pirates ready to play."

McNeill directed the Pirates to a 10-3 record in 2013 that matched the second-highest win total in school history. ECU also ended a four-game bowl losing streak by defeating Ohio, 37-20, in the Beef "O'' Brady's Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla.

East Carolina's football team last played at Florida in 1983. The Pirates faced a No. 6-ranked Gators team that needed a fourth-quarter touchdown run by Neal Anderson to pull out a 24-17 victory. Anderson's 6-yard run with 6:23 to play provided the winning points, but ECU twice drove into Florida territory in the final minutes to threaten the lead. The Gators, however, came up with two defensive stands to preserve the victory.

Florida joins South Carolina as Southeastern Conference schools on future ECU schedules. The Pirates have visits scheduled to Columbia, S.C., in 2014 and 2016 to play the Gamecocks. ECU has previously faced current SEC members Alabama (1998), Arkansas (2010), Auburn (1985, 1986, 1994), Georgia (1990), Kentucky (1993, 2009), LSU (1981), Missouri (1982, 1983) and Tennessee (1995) in its history.

In addition to the Gators, ECU's 2015 non-conference schedule will also include a road game at BYU and a home game against Virginia Tech.

Florida finished 4-8 last season under third-year head coach Will Muschamp.

Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.

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